Melanie Mills
Does our vote count?
By Melanie Mills
Without going into some far fetched ranting conspiracy, I really want to know does my vote actually count for anything? Here in St. Louis a couple years back there was a huge debackle over the voting process. Some voted that weren't suppossed to, others that had the right to vote didn't get to. To make a long story short it was a mess and raised serious questions about the integrity of the voting process as a whole.
I can't help but to think back about that time and now we have the added worry of the all to usual political mudslinging, new computerized voting machines being used for the first time. More seriously though, is the climate of this election season. Many people are disgruntled over the war in Iraq which could play a big part in a "vendetta vote," i.e. these voters are angry against the party in charge so to settle the score they will vote Democratic just to send a message. This is foolish when you consider everything that is at stake in this election, our nation and in the world in general.
We now must deal with the most slanderous and nasty campaign commercials in history. These are just cuthroat forget about mean spirited, the nature of these commercials leave you with a blank stare on your face thinking, "Did I just see and hear that?" Unfortunately it's a yes most of the time.
The issues, the issues- the big I word. Where do you start? Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Social Security, Gay Marriage, Partial Birth Abortion, Euthanasia, Homeland Security, Personal Freedoms Lost and on and on.
My big million dollar question is, if people are not getting along in their own parties,
(Let's not mention the sordid details, we've heard it all enough) and if the Representatives basically fight each other everyday and can't agree on anything, or worse can't get their jobs done then what hope do I have that my vote menas anything anyway? Did I lose you there? I hope not.
Basically I think and I have seen and heard for myself the feelings of the people at large. Trust, basic trust which is crucial in any form of a relationship has been lost. Without trust there is no relationship, and when this happens there arises complex issues or the relationship dies all together.
This election process is bigger than just marking an X on a certain name. This time we need to use our critical thinking skills, our brains, our gut and our heart. Sounds like a lot, but for Freedom and Liberty and Safety it's a small price to pay. This is a serious citizen duty we are about to partake in, don't take it lightly. Some of the issues up for vote could change human life as we know it. Think about that and think about it hard. If your a praying person, a meditating person or just a quiet person spend some time reviewing the candidates and the issues and vote for the one that best matches your value system. If you go into the voting box and cast a "vedetta vote" your not just failing your duty, but yourself, your community, your country and perhaps the world. If the V vote is yours than do us all a favor and stay home.
As for the rest of us we must be vigilant and we must act with integrity in the voting box. I do hope my vote counts and yours as well, but by some odd perchance it does not at least you did your duty as a citizen and you tried. Isn't that how the best things in life are usually done? By the single act of giving it your best shot.
I'll leave with this thought. Think about all the soldiers in the desert half a world away from us stationed there months on end. Never knowing what one moment might bring from the next. Sleeping in the sand so his or her fellow Americans back home can get up and go to work in the morning without the fear of their SUV being blown to bits in their driveway. Think about the thousands of soldiers wives and children left behind with the undying though in their head everyday, "will my husband be OK today?" or, "Will my Daddy die today?" Just Imagine walking in their mockasins one day. They do it everyday until the war is won.
During the upcoming elections and especially the election in 2008 we need to stop and think long and hard about the issues, our country, the war and the sons and daughters in the sand. I am a Mother and I don't know if I could sleep at night knowing my 3 sons were sleeping in the sand thousands of miles away from me. It takes a courageous woman and man to do so. Remember them when you vote- it will sink that V vote faster than a torpedo.
© Melanie Mills
Without going into some far fetched ranting conspiracy, I really want to know does my vote actually count for anything? Here in St. Louis a couple years back there was a huge debackle over the voting process. Some voted that weren't suppossed to, others that had the right to vote didn't get to. To make a long story short it was a mess and raised serious questions about the integrity of the voting process as a whole.
I can't help but to think back about that time and now we have the added worry of the all to usual political mudslinging, new computerized voting machines being used for the first time. More seriously though, is the climate of this election season. Many people are disgruntled over the war in Iraq which could play a big part in a "vendetta vote," i.e. these voters are angry against the party in charge so to settle the score they will vote Democratic just to send a message. This is foolish when you consider everything that is at stake in this election, our nation and in the world in general.
We now must deal with the most slanderous and nasty campaign commercials in history. These are just cuthroat forget about mean spirited, the nature of these commercials leave you with a blank stare on your face thinking, "Did I just see and hear that?" Unfortunately it's a yes most of the time.
The issues, the issues- the big I word. Where do you start? Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Social Security, Gay Marriage, Partial Birth Abortion, Euthanasia, Homeland Security, Personal Freedoms Lost and on and on.
My big million dollar question is, if people are not getting along in their own parties,
(Let's not mention the sordid details, we've heard it all enough) and if the Representatives basically fight each other everyday and can't agree on anything, or worse can't get their jobs done then what hope do I have that my vote menas anything anyway? Did I lose you there? I hope not.
Basically I think and I have seen and heard for myself the feelings of the people at large. Trust, basic trust which is crucial in any form of a relationship has been lost. Without trust there is no relationship, and when this happens there arises complex issues or the relationship dies all together.
This election process is bigger than just marking an X on a certain name. This time we need to use our critical thinking skills, our brains, our gut and our heart. Sounds like a lot, but for Freedom and Liberty and Safety it's a small price to pay. This is a serious citizen duty we are about to partake in, don't take it lightly. Some of the issues up for vote could change human life as we know it. Think about that and think about it hard. If your a praying person, a meditating person or just a quiet person spend some time reviewing the candidates and the issues and vote for the one that best matches your value system. If you go into the voting box and cast a "vedetta vote" your not just failing your duty, but yourself, your community, your country and perhaps the world. If the V vote is yours than do us all a favor and stay home.
As for the rest of us we must be vigilant and we must act with integrity in the voting box. I do hope my vote counts and yours as well, but by some odd perchance it does not at least you did your duty as a citizen and you tried. Isn't that how the best things in life are usually done? By the single act of giving it your best shot.
I'll leave with this thought. Think about all the soldiers in the desert half a world away from us stationed there months on end. Never knowing what one moment might bring from the next. Sleeping in the sand so his or her fellow Americans back home can get up and go to work in the morning without the fear of their SUV being blown to bits in their driveway. Think about the thousands of soldiers wives and children left behind with the undying though in their head everyday, "will my husband be OK today?" or, "Will my Daddy die today?" Just Imagine walking in their mockasins one day. They do it everyday until the war is won.
During the upcoming elections and especially the election in 2008 we need to stop and think long and hard about the issues, our country, the war and the sons and daughters in the sand. I am a Mother and I don't know if I could sleep at night knowing my 3 sons were sleeping in the sand thousands of miles away from me. It takes a courageous woman and man to do so. Remember them when you vote- it will sink that V vote faster than a torpedo.
© Melanie Mills
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